Rebuilt Isuzu Makes Great Farm Truck

2013 - Volume #37, Issue #5, Page #14

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When Chuck Stevens needed a new farm truck, he found an inexpensive used Isuzu cargo truck and rebuilt it into a handy flatbed.
    “I looked at Ford and Chevy 1-ton and 1 1/2-ton trucks, but the prices were hard to justify,” says Stevens. “I spent time at online truck forums and noticed that Australians talk a lot about the reliability and fuel economy of Isuzus. The engines use a premium block and are designed for 500,000 miles.”
    He found a 2001 Isuzu 1 1/2-ton, 14-ft. box truck on Craigslist for $6,000. It had 1,200 hrs. on it and 290,000 miles. Stevens estimates the re-do added about $3,000 to the initial cost, much of that being sandblasting and a new paint job.
    “My dad Lester and I pulled the box off and installed an 8-ft. flatbed from a 1978 1-ton Chevy,” says Stevens, noting that the old truck box was converted into a small storage shed. “The Isuzu frame is only 3/8-in. narrower than Ford and Chevy trucks were before they moved the fuel tank inside the frame rail. We drilled new mounting holes on the frame and ran three 2 by 1/4-in. plates down each side for brackets. We extended it 4 ft. to the front and added a headache rack.”
    To accommodate towing, Stevens and his dad mounted a drawbar with a 2-in. receiver hitch and installed wiring for electric brakes.
    “The Isuzu comes with a full-size industrial battery, tilt cab and exterior transmission filter and drain for easy maintenance,” says Stevens. “It also has a built-in exhaust brake. The rotor was worn, but the bearings still had factory-installed grease. We just cleaned and repacked them and put it back to work.”
    Stevens uses the truck for hauling big round bales and other cargo, as well as transporting his farrier equipment to jobs.
    The Isuzu has proven to be a good truck. The 16-in. tires on it qualify it as a pickup for insurance purposes. The short wheelbase with beam axle front end (under the cab) makes for a tight turning radius.
    “With a full tank of gas and all my tools, it is still under 4,000 lbs.,” says Stevens. “It’s really fuel efficient, giving me 23 mpg the last time I checked.”
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Charles Stevens, P.O. Box 37, Bradley, Okla. 73011 (ph 405 320-1255; madchack@gmail.com).

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Rebuilt Isuzu Makes Great Farm Truck ENGINES When Chuck Stevens needed a new farm truck he found an inexpensive used Isuzu cargo truck and rebuilt it into a handy flatbed “I looked at Ford and Chevy 1-ton and 1 1/2-ton trucks but the prices were hard to justify ” says Stevens “I spent time at online truck forums and noticed that Australians talk a lot about the reliability and fuel economy of Isuzus The engines use a premium block and are designed for 500 000 miles ” He found a 2001 Isuzu 1 1/2-ton 14-ft box truck on Craigslist for $6 000 It had 1 200 hrs on it and 290 000 miles Stevens estimates the re-do added about $3 000 to the initial cost much of that being sandblasting and a new paint job “My dad Lester and I pulled the box off and installed an 8-ft flatbed from a 1978 1-ton Chevy ” says Stevens noting that the old truck box was converted into a small storage shed “The Isuzu frame is only 3/8-in narrower than Ford and Chevy trucks were before they moved the fuel tank inside the frame rail We drilled new mounting holes on the frame and ran three 2 by 1/4-in plates down each side for brackets We extended it 4 ft to the front and added a headache rack ” To accommodate towing Stevens and his dad mounted a drawbar with a 2-in receiver hitch and installed wiring for electric brakes “The Isuzu comes with a full-size industrial battery tilt cab and exterior transmission filter and drain for easy maintenance ” says Stevens “It also has a built-in exhaust brake The rotor was worn but the bearings still had factory-installed grease We just cleaned and repacked them and put it back to work ” Stevens uses the truck for hauling big round bales and other cargo as well as transporting his farrier equipment to jobs The Isuzu has proven to be a good truck The 16-in tires on it qualify it as a pickup for insurance purposes The short wheelbase with beam axle front end under the cab makes for a tight turning radius “With a full tank of gas and all my tools it is still under 4 000 lbs ” says Stevens “It’s really fuel efficient giving me 23 mpg the last time I checked ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Charles Stevens P O Box 37 Bradley Okla 73011 ph 405 320-1255; madchack@gmail com

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